The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Ride
The Hogwarts Express: Visitors can ride Hogwarts Express as a method of transportation between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. It takes you from one park to the other, plus it recreates the train in such great and amazing detail. You do need a Park to park ticket.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: This ride takes you on a magical ride through Hogwarts as you fly through a Quiddich match, are chased by a dragon, and more.
Flight of the Hippogriff: A lower intensity roller coaster that is ideal for younger children. This is a thrilling ride for young magicians that will take you pretty high off the ground.
Harry Potter and Escape from Gringotts: Undoubtedly the jewel of Diagon Alley. The big fire-breathing dragon that sits atop of the Gringotts bank is a hard-to-miss landmark. Approximately every 15 minutes the Gringotts dragon roars and blows a fireball. Once inside, you see all of the goblins that work hard to keep the ledgers and balance accounts. This is an amazing experience you dont want to miss!
Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure: It is definitely worth the wait. Experience high-speed action while riding. This is truly a unique experience. You fly, fall, see beasts, and even do a little magic.
Get A Park To Park Ticket
As mentioned above, to get the full experience of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you have to get the Park to Park add on for your ticket. Without it you are unable to ride the Hogwarts Express, so even if you are planning on spending a day in each park you still wont be able to hit everything. You will undoubtedly feel the draw of Platform 9 and 3/4 when you are there, so why not plan ahead and get the park to park ticket ahead of time.
We Recently Asked Our Readers On Facebook: Hogsmeade Or Diagon Alley
We got a lot of responses, mostly along the lines of Why do we have to pick? However, a lot of you had great insight as to why you prefer one area of the land over the other, so lets go through what you said!
Some of you vouched for Hogsmeade because it tends to be less crowded than Diagon Alley: Hogsmeade, even when its busy, it still always seems less crowded than Diagon Alley. We definitely prefer having space to breathe at theme parks, so Hogsmeade is good for getting your Harry Potter fill in without all of the people!
Others picked Hogsmeade because of the rides! Hogsmeade has the bulk of the attractions in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter including Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Flight of the Hippogriff, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and a Hogwarts Express stop. If you like rides, Hogsmeade is definitely the place to go!
A lot of our readers said they preferred Diagon Alley! While it doesnt have all the rides that Hogsmeade does, its got some incredible theming and tons to see. Some of our readers said that Diagon Alley wins for the snacks and shopping alone. Only one has Florean Fortescues. Thats all that needs to be said about that.
Some of our readers also noted that Diagon Alley is great for avoiding the sun! The alley tends to be a bit darker and more shaded, which makes it great for escaping that Florida heat, Im a fragile skinned ginger, so I love the darkness of Diagon.
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Shows At The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
Whether at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, dont discount the shows. During our visit there were two at each location. Diagon Alley had a concert by the well-known wizarding group Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees, and a puppet show that told the Beetle the Bard story of the Fountain of Fair Fortune . At Hogsmeade is the Frog Choir and Triwizard Spirit Rally .
Dont miss the projection light show on the castle. There are different shows depending on the time of year. During our visit was arguably one of the best the Darks Arts show. The bridge into Hogsmeade is a great place to watch.
Planning to visit other areas of Universal Orlando Resort? Youll want to read this excellent article from our friends at Global Munchkins.
If you want to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, we recommend reading this article first.
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Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Fly deep into the wilds of the Forbidden Forest, beyond the grounds of Hogwarts castle, on a thrilling roller coaster ride that plunges into the paths of some of the wizarding worlds rarest magical creatures. To be honest, I have been a Walt Disney World annual pass holder for years and this ride single handedly convinced me to purchase a Universal annual pass. ITS THAT GOOD! It is a must when youre figuring out what to do at Universal Studios Harry Potter.
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Which Harry Potter World Is The Best Top 4 Harry Potter Theme Parks Ranked
One thing all Harry Potter fans are constantly in search of is a way to bring the magic of the movies and the books to life. Although there are a plethora of different ways to achieve this goal, taking Pottermore quizzes and shopping for wands doesnt quite match up to some peoples expectations. The answer for everyone looking for the best experience yet is definitely visiting a Harry Potter theme park. However, given the massive popularity of the series, there are so many out there you simply have to ask yourself which ones are the best.
This article will give you a brief breakdown of the 4 best theme parks to help you have your own real-life Harry Potter experience to help you forget about your muggle life, at least for a short while.
Does Disney Have A Harry Potter Park
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area spanning two theme parksIslands of Adventure and Universal Studios Floridaat the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the film series and novels by J. K. Rowling.
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Flight Of The Hippogriff
Coming in at number 5, the worst Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios is the Flight of the Hippogriff. If youre a Harry Potter film fan, The Flight of the Hippogriff is a great ride for you! This low-key Harry Potter ride at Universal takes you for a flight around Hagrids pumpkin patch. Board a hippogriff shaped train and swoop, dive and soar as you listen to Hagrids special instructions on magical creatures.
Location: Islands of Adventure Hogsmeade Village
Rank: 5 The Flight of the Hippogriff is ranked at number 5 for Universal Studios Harry Potter rides for a few reasons. This is a coaster-type ride curated for smaller witches and wizards, making it not so thrilling, but very entertaining and perfect for kids. We love the overall design of this ride, but the other Harry Potter rides have it beat! With that being said, you get some of the best views of the outside of the Hogwarts Castle, which makes it totally worth it.
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More Harry Potter Secrets Outside Diagon Alley In London
Listen for the bricks moving. As you walk in or out of Diagon Alley, you can hear the bricks moving.
The number is on the phone in the red phone booth outside Kings Cross. Stay on the line for a message directly from the Ministry. The best part of this simple attraction has nothing to do with Harry Potter though. The real fun is watching kids try to figure out how to use a telephone, like a real telephone, not a cell phone. Its better than seeing them get an earwax Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean.
Disappear onto Platform 9 ¾. As you walk through the cue to get onto the Hogwarts Express at King Cross station, stop at the top of the stairs when you see the luggage and let another member of your party walk ahead. You can watch them disappear onto platform 9 3/4.
Find Krecher at Grimauld Place. Knock on the door of 12 Grimmauld Place and then look up. You may just find the house elf Kreacher peering out to see who is there.
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Where Is Harry Potter In Disney World
Just to make sure we are covering all of our basis, Harry Potter World is not located in Disney World. And one of the most important reasons we are covering this question so much is I would consistently see families show up to the Magic Kingdom park during my time working as a Disney World Cast Member. So we are just trying to make sure you are as prepared as possible for your next Universal Orlando trip.
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Warner Brothers Studio Tour In London
Although this isnt a theme park in a traditional sense of the word it is definitely worth mentioning. The tour of the studio is an amazing experience for any fan of the series.
The tour offers a unique look into the process of filming the movies. As the visitors walk around the studio they can see most of the sets used in the movies.
Most of them are also filled with different props and costumes from beloved characters. One of the most popular sets on the entire tour is The Great Hall, which always looks exactly as it does in the movies.
An interesting addition is a small souvenir you get once you actually get inside. The Harry Potter passport is a small booklet introducing the visitors to what theyll see ahead accompanied by interesting facts about the exhibits.
The tour also features a model of the Hogwarts castle which you can walk through a few times to make sure you got all the details. Another model feature on this tour is the Kings Cross train station completed with platform 9 3/4 and a perfect photo opportunity for any Potterhead, a wall with half of the luggage cart making you look like someone caught you right as you were rushing to catch Hogwarts Express.
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Hogsmeade Vs Diagon Alley For Early Park Admission
Did you know that everyone who purchases their discount Universal Orlando Ticketsfrom The Park Prodigy receives EARLY PARK ADMISSION to Harry Potter? Yep, thats right you will get into either Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley one hour before regular park guests. But which one is better to use for Early Park Admission?
When trying to decide between Diagon Alley Vs Hogsmeade for early park admission we are going to look at which park will help you save the most time later on in the day. Because thats the whole point of using the Harry Potter Early Park Admission ticketanyway!
Overall we would always lean towards Hogsmeade for early park admission. The main reason is Hogsmeade is home to two of the most popular rides at Universal: Hagrids Magical Motorbike Adventure and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Taking advantage of that extra hour in the morning can save you up to three hours later on in the day!
Special Note: Be sure to check out our Universal Orlando ticketpage for all of the latest deals and promotions!
Visit The Parks At Night
Lastly, early park entry is great, but there’s also something magical about visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley after dark.
This won’t be possible every night , but be sure to check the opening hours of each park for every day of your trip to see if you can catch either of these parks after dark.
I promise it’s worth it!
You can read Stephen’s post about our weekend here.
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Which Orlando Park Has Harry Potter
Okay but what if youre still unsure which park has Harry Potter in Florida? To confirm, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Florida is split between the two main Universal Orlando theme parks which are Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure park. Each Wizarding World of Harry Potter Land has unique rides based on specific stories from the books and the movies. Both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley also share the Hogwarts Express attraction which is included with a Universal Orlando park-to-park ticket.
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter With Toddlers
Best ride for your little children:
Flight of the Hippogriff: This is a family coaster fun for all ages. The Buckbeak animatronic is beautiful.
Hogwarts Express: Parents and children will love the laid-back immersive experience that takes you right into the pages of this magical world. It is a real-life recreated train with sophisticated special effects that transports you from Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade.
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Take The Hogwarts Express Between Parks
If you’re going to Universal Orlando mostly for the Harry Potter parks, you want to make sure to get a park-hopper ticket so you can visit both parks in one day. Then you can take the Hogwarts Express between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade!
Get on at Kings Cross Station in Universal Studios, and get off at Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure.
It’s a fun way to travel, and actually can save you some time walking between parks .
The ride itself is fun, too, but I won’t give away why you’ll have to ride it yourself to see!
The Ultimate Guide To The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter At Universal Orlando
From Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley, here’s everything you need to know about the Harry Potter rides, restaurants, and shops at Universal Orlando.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort consists of two immersive lands based on the Harry Potter books and films. The Diagon Alley area is located in Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure. The two Harry Potter theme park lands are connected by the Hogwarts Express.
Both of the Harry Potter lands at Universal Studios have themed shops, rides, dining, and entertainment, and the best way to travel between the two is on the Hogwarts Express train. If you want to hop on the train or visit both lands in one day, youll need to purchase Park-to-Park tickets that include both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure for your visit.
Both Harry Potter Orlando theme park lands accept Express Passes, an add-on to your regular park ticket that lets you skip the line on many rides and attractions. You can purchase Express Passes online or inside the park, and its included as a free perk if youre staying in a Universal Premier hotel.
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Where To Go At Universal: Diagon Alley Or Hogsmeade
In an ideal world, youd be going to both parks and your only worry whether to visit Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley first. But, since thats not always possible, well help you out with our recommendation. We pick Hogsmeade / Islands of Adventure.
Why did we pick Hogsmeade?
- The rides are so much better theres really no comparison there. Hagrids Motorbike Adventure alone makes this an easy choice.
- Who could turn down the chance to actually walk into Hogwarts Castle? The fact that theres a really great ride inside just makes it even more fun.
We hope our Harry Potter World comparison helps you decide which Harry Potter theme park is best. They are both excellent parks and you will have fun wherever you go, but in our opinion, Hogsmeade is the clear winner!
Harry Potter Theme Park England:
The Harry Potter Theme Park England, known as the Warner Bros Studio Tour London is one of the most popular places to visit in England! A typical visit takes around 3 hours and highlights include:
- Go behind the scenes with awesome sets that bring the movies to life
- Ride a broomstick like in the movies!
- Enter the forbidden forest and see Buckbeak, Hippogriff and more
- Admire the authentic props and costumes that were used in the films
- Visit the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Chamber of Secrets
- Stand on platform 9 ¾ and take a photo infront of the luggage trolley
- See the incredibly detailed model of Hogwarts Castle, used to create amazing shots of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
- Hop onboard the Hogwarts Express for the ultimate Harry Potter experience
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Restaurants In The Wizarding World
Hogs Head Pub
The Hogs head pubs specialty is Butterbeer. Butterbeer is a non-alcoholic drink with flavors of shortbread, cream soda and butterscotch. It comes in frozen or regular form. For $8.50 you can get it in a souvenir mug as shown.
Which ever type you choose, it is certainly refreshing on a hot Florida day!
Over 21s can enjoy a refreshing beer. Choices include Bud Light, Budweiser, Stella, Newcastle, Guiness, Boddingtons and a specially made Hogs Head brew.
Insider tips! Listen carefully near the stairs to the left of the bar you might hear some voices from upstairs.
Go to the back of the pub and you can take your Butterbeer outside. There is a large outdoor covered seating area where you can take a load off and people watch for a bit.
Three Broomsticks
The Three Broomsticks is next door to the Hogs Head. Its a much bigger establishment. Here youll find a variety of British food including fish & chips, sheperds pie, BBQ ribs, Cornish pasties and turkey legs. Deserts include apple pie and chocolate trifle. There is also a childrens menu.
Insider tip to get a higher quality glass souvenir mug instead of a plastic one, order a Hogs Head brew. The Hogs Head brew comes with a glass engraved souvenir mug.